How to highlight an entire row if A1 has text

Question

So I have this custom formula for conditional formatting in google sheets

=(A2 <> "")

I want to copy this rule to all the cells in a row. When I try to apply it to the whole row it doesn't work.

This happens: only the cell next to the cell with text has its color changed

I want the whole row to change color if I have text in the A2 spot.

Thanks!

Answer 1

If you add $ =($A2<>"") it will lock the row reference and therefore mark the whole row green.